AFTER much suspense and anticipation, Malaysia’s most prestigious music event, the 35th Anugerah Juara Lagu (AJL 35), came to an auspicious end with the victory of the song ‘Gila’ performed by Kaka Azraff, Noki and Loca B. Receiving the grand prize and crowned as the ‘Juara Lagu’ (Champion of Songs), the track composed and written by Ezra Kong, Noki and Loca B bagged home trophies as well as a cash prize worth RM50,000.
“I really didn’t expect this win. I am extremely thankful to be given the chance from Warner Music Malaysia to work with talented individuals like Kaka Azraff, Noki and Loca B. And actually, I am also thankful to Hael Husaini who taught me a lot about how the Malay community listens to music. That helped me in crafting the melody for the song,” explained Ezra Kong, the composer of the track.
Despite just days after losing her beloved grandmother, the song’s main vocalist Kaka Azraff, who is also the niece to Malaysia’s Queen of Rock, Ella, admitted that all along, she felt something special about the haunting track and gave her best performance by embodying the essence of the song.
The R&B Hip Hop track highlights a rather heavy subject matter with several underlying positive messages. As though trying to express the feeling of anxiety being trapped for months during the first lockdown caused by the pandemic, the song sings of inner strength in facing the madness and travails that burdens the mind and soul by controlling fear and braving through life’s unpredictable journey.
The other winners for the night were runners ups, ‘Semalam’ performed and written by Aina Abdul, while ‘Belenggu Rindu’ by Dato Jamal Abdillah and Wany Hasrita, also composed by Ezra Kong and Hael Husaini took home the third spot. These came with trophies as well as cash prizes worth RM35,000 and RM20,000, respectively.
Zizi Kirana’s Hip Hop hit ‘Eh’ took home the best performance prize worth RM12,000 along with a year’s voucher of products from McDonald’s, while Ernie Zakri’s ‘Gundah’ won her the best vocal award carrying a trophy and cash prize worth RM12,000.
The event was held live without a mass audience under strict standard operating procedures at the MBSA auditorium after much debate and postponement due to the Movement Control Order enforced by the government in mid-January. – The Vibes, March 15, 2021
Shah Shamshiri is the lifestyle and entertainment editor of Petra News’ Malay news portal, Getaran. He was also the third prize winner of the 33rd Anugerah Juara Lagu in 2019 for his song ‘Sampai Bila’ which he co-wrote for Malaysian vocalist, Misha Omar.
